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May primary election could bring serious shake-up to Salem City Council

With the mayoral office and half of the council seats on the ballot, Salem City Council could see a serious shake-up following the primary election on May 19.

Two sitting councilors declined to run again for office, bringing new faces to the field, and unlike previous years — when some incumbent positions went unchallenged — each seat on the city council is competitive this year.

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The five seats up for election could bring a significant ideological shift to the council, which in the past year has worked to tackle the homelessness crisis, the debate over a third bridge into West Salem and respond to the coronavirus outbreak in Oregon.

Here's who is on the ballot:

Incumbent mayor seeks third term, faces challenger

Mayor Chuck Bennett is seeking a third term, promising to take on transportation challenges, the COVID-19 economic recovery and homelessness if re-elected.

Bennett, a former member of the Oregon House of Representatives, retired director of government relations for the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators and former city councilor, was first elected to the mayoral office in 2016. He won a second term in 2018 after running unopposed.

Chuck Bennett(Photo: Special to the Statesman Journal)

This year, Brooke Jackson, the founder of a community buying co-operative and small business coach, announced she would be running against Bennett.

Jackson said she became concerned about the homelessness crisis and felt "very discouraged" by the choices city councilors and the mayor were making.

A third-generation Salem resident (her grandparents met while attending Willamette University), Jackson said she grew up attending Salem public schools before earning her degree from the University of Oregon and completing MBA coursework.

She returned to Salem to raise her family and worked as an economist for the Oregon Employment Department for eight years.

She said she would bring a different perspective to city council, citing her history working with small businesses. She said Bennett does have extensive experience in public service.

"I think sometimes if you spend too much time on that side of things, you don't have as much perspective as to the real issues and real concerns that businesses and business owners are facing," Jackson said.

"Frankly, it’s harder than it looks and if you haven’t had any involvement in city government it will take an inexperienced person at least a year to just understand the basics of city finance, operations, policy and opportunities."

Bennett said one of his proudest accomplishments as mayor was starting the Housing Rental Assistance Program. The program went on to house 275 people and become the largest dispersed housing-first program for chronically homeless people in the state.

Going forward, he said, homelessness, affordable housing shortages, the economic impact of COVID-19 and a deteriorating transportation system and infrastructure will be major issues for the city.

As a 54-year resident of Salem, Bennett said he has deep roots in the community and can't imagine living anywhere else.

"Our community’s diversity, friendliness, creative community, lifetime education systems and great restaurants and businesses along with its location with easy reach of world-class recreation areas make this a just about perfect place to live," he said.

Two face off in Ward 1

Late last year, first-time city councilor Cara Kaser decided not to seek re-election, leaving two new candidates to vie for the position.

Jan Kailuweit, who lost to Kaser in 2016, is running again to represent Ward 1, which includes most of downtown Salem and a portion of West Salem.

Kailuweit, a manager with the State of Oregon, said he would like to see a "course correction" in city council.

Jan Kailuweit(Photo: Special for the Statesman Journal)

"Community satisfaction has dropped since the local election four years ago; more Salem residents feel that the City is off on the wrong track," he said. "I believe the current majority of city councilors has largely lost touch with the priorities of Salem residents."

He said he would like to focus on two areas core to government — public safety and infrastructure.

"I want the city to focus again on the services that businesses need to stay vibrant and provide living-wage jobs, and that families need in order to prosper and enjoy raising their kids here," he said.

Kailuweit also said he wanted to bring a global perspective to city council.

Originally from Germany, Kailuweit to the United States in 1999 and has lived in Salem with his wife and son ever since, going on to become a citizen and serve on budget committees, neighborhood associations and boards.

He pointed to his education, immigrant and global perspective and governmental experience as something that sets him apart from his opponent.

Virginia Stapleton says as a lifelong Salem resident, non-traditional, returning student, former small business owner, school district budget committee member and full-time mother, she would bring a much-needed perspective and dedication to city council.

"Full-time parents use the city in a very unique way and I want my voice at the table for those important discussions," she said. "I also believe that our society is in the midst of a cultural change. Slowly we have been shifting from an individualistic society to more of a communal society. It is plain to see how interconnected we all are, especially now with the pandemic."

After working so her husband could attend college early in their marriage, she started a landscaping company, which they eventually sold. Now that her two daughters are in school, Stapleton enrolled in college and is working to earn her degree in political science.

Virginia Stapleton(Photo: Special to the Statesman Journal)

Her volunteer work in her Englewood neighborhood brought her into contact with Kaser, who encouraged her to run for office.

Stapleton said key issues facing the city include the economic response to the pandemic, addressing homelessness and planning for the city's future growth. She'd also like to see more communication between city council and both schools and residents.

She said the city is full of potential and promise.

"That potential is worth the effort it will take to see it through," Stapleton said. "I think Salem has a bright future!"

Stapleton's campaign listed $11,763 in contributions with the biggest contributors being the Elect Cara Kaser committee and the Democratic Party of Oregon, according to the Oregon Secretary of State's Office. Kailuweit's campaign listed $10,200 in total contributions. His biggest contributors are Citizens for a Livable Community, Build Jobs PAC and the Mid-Valley Affordable Housing Coalition.

Nanke added that with many new faces joining city council, an experienced mentor would be needed to help deal with these new challenges.

During his 20 years on the council, he said, he has been proudest of the construction of the convention center, the conversion of the railroad bridge to a pedestrian bridge, the Minto Island pedestrian bridge and the implementation of a railroad quiet zone.

His biggest challenge has been being able to finish the process to build a third bridge. Nanke listed the Salem River Crossing project, along with COVID-19 pandemic recovery and homelessness, as the three big issues looming over the city.

He said his institutional knowledge and experience set him apart from his opponent.

"I have a firm understanding of our land-use requirements, infrastructure, and city budget process," Nanke said. "I have relationships with other city and county leaders, and with our state and federal delegations."

Phillips pointed to his experience as a doctor in the busiest emergency room on the West Coast as one of his advantages.

Raised in Grants Pass, Phillips moved to Salem after graduating from the Yale University School of Medicine. He lives in the Morningside neighborhood with his wife and two children.

In the past 12 years, Phillips estimated that he's cared for 25,000 community members. He said he can give the council a vital public health perspective, which is essential especially now.

"I care for community members living with homelessness essentially every single shift in the Salem Hospital emergency department," he said. "I regularly care for people involved in motor vehicle collisions including children, pedestrians and bicyclists."

He expects homelessness, the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for improved infrastructure to be the biggest issues facing the city.

Trevor Phillips(Photo: Special to the Statesman Journal)

"Salem needs help getting ahead of these problems, and I know I can make a difference," Phillips said.

A former member of the Homeless Solutions Task Force, he credited the current city council for working to get homeless people off the city streets and into sheltered tents during the pandemic but said more work and communication was needed to help break the cycle of homeless for people in Salem.

Phillips pointed to reporting that Nanke was pressured to run

"Ward 3 needs new leadership and real commitment," he said. "We need someone who wants to be here."

Oregon Secretary of State campaign finance records report that Nanke had $18,125 in contributions with his top contributors being the Oregon Realtors Political Action Committee, Build Jobs PAC and Citizens for a Livable Community.

Phillips election committee reported $16,763 in total contributions. The biggest contributors include several individuals and the Democratic Party of Oregon.

Real estate broker vs. science teacher in Ward 5

After graduating high school in Mt. Angel, Jose Gonzalez moved to Salem without knowing anyone and got a job at Arby's on Lancaster Drive.

In the ensuing years, he attended Chemeketa Community College, found work as a broker and eventually became the owner of Tu Casa Real Estate.

He said he went from picking strawberries as a farmworker to being invited to the White House and getting appointed by two governors to statewide boards.

Jose Gonzalez(Photo: Special for the Statesman Journal)

"Someone in my position had to be open to work with everyone, learn from anyone willing to mentor me and work twice as hard as the next guy," Gonzalez said. "Here I am 25 years later asking for your vote. This is the result of Salem taking care of me!"

But Gonzalez said he wants more for his ward.

"Living in NE Salem though, I've felt that the rest of the city is progressing and we aren't," he said. "Our kids don't feel safe walking to school, we're hearing more sirens at night."

He'd like to see more communication between city leaders and residents and wants to be the person to stand up for northeast Salem and take action in the city council without in-fighting.

He listed economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, helping the city's most vulnerable — from the homeless to food-insecure students — and making sure housing, infrastructure and schools are ready for a growing population as three key issues facing the city.

Hollie Oakes-Miller, a working-class grandmother, climate change and environmental science teacher at Portland Community College and community organizer with the Salem Democrat Socialists of America, said she wants to be the voice of the working class and poor people in northeast Salem.

"I care deeply about my community and feel that it is critical that the Ward 5 city councilor represent, and be accountable to, the majority population in Ward 5 — which is working-class," she said.

Oakes-Miller said she will be a more effective city councilor thanks to her knack for listening to people and connecting with them to solve problems. Her background as a community organizer, geologist and teacher will help her work with people and tackle problems from a different perspective.

"My education and teaching experiences give me the knowledge needed to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world," she said.

Hollie Oakes-Miller(Photo: Special to the Statesman Journal)

Oakes-Miller moved to the city more than 15 years ago with her family. Raising her son, and now her grandchild, here has made her realize Salem has become her "forever home."

Homelessness topped her list of issues facing the city, along with climate change, environmental justice, housing justice, social equity and disaster preparedness.

She said she would like to see city council become a living wage, paid position to help eliminate the financial barriers that exclude many people from running for the volunteer, unpaid position. Oakes-Miller also said she will not take donations from corporations or conservative groups.

Campaign finance records list her total contributions at $1,331, with her biggest contributors being individuals and the Marion County Democratic Central Committee.

Gonzalez campaign reported $10,241 in contributions, including $2,000 from former gubernatorial candidate Bud Pierce, local businesses and Citizens for a Livable Community.

Newly appointed councilor runs against candidate with $57k in backing

Since joining city council in October 2019, Vanessa Nordyke has less time to accrue a track record typical of an incumbent city councilor.

But she said she has plenty she is proud of in those short six months. She cited her work to help get those experiencing homelessness off the streets and into shelters and camps, voting to declare a statewide emergency to help flatten the COVID-19 curve and volunteering at homeless shelters, for Meals on Wheel and to raise donations for low-income senior homes.

A senior assistant attorney general with the Oregon Department of Justice and longtime Salem resident, Nordyke was appointed to the Ward 7 following Sally Cook's resignation of the position due to a loss in her family.

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City council member Vanessa Nordyke(Photo: MADELEINE COOK / STATESMAN JOURNAL)

Homelessness has been the biggest challenge faced by city council in recent years, she said.

"The City of Salem has been asked to solve a crisis decades in the making without adequate resources from county, state, and federal lawmakers to fund affordable housing and meet the huge need for drug treatment and mental health services," Nordyke said.

She said an emphasis on "housing first" will help solve the crisis and wants to focus on affordable housing during her next term.

"As City Councilor, I voted to cut red tape to make it cheaper and easier to design and build affordable multifamily housing," Nordyke said.

She said she is willing to roll up her sleeves to get work done, can earn bipartisan support and has the experience of leading during a crisis. She cited her time on various national, state, county and city budget committees, and her experience being the youngest ever elected president of the Oregon State Bar.

"After decades of serving my community, experience has shown me that leaders from all political stripes get more done when they build relationships with the people around them," she said. "Otherwise, the progress you make one year can be undone the next year. I stand ready to listen, learn, and lead."

Now her short stint on city council will be put to the test by a challenger with more than double the amount of campaign contributions.

Reid Sund, the director of finance for Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics, the largest private employer in Salem, said he wants to give back to his community and help foster a legacy for his children.

Raised in Salem, Sund said he has the financial expertise to balance budgets and the leadership experience to tackle complicated problems.

"The time has come that Salem brings common sense leadership to council and I am ready to step up," he said.

Sund and Nordyke were among the three candidates recommended by Salem's Board and Commission Appointments Committee to fill Cook's position. Both served on the city's Citizen Budget Committee. The council ultimately appointed Nordyke to the empty position.

Sund said he would like to see a "tough love" approach in the homelessness crisis paired with long term solutions and a sidewalk ordinance for downtown to compel those living on the street to get help.

Reid Sund(Photo: Special to the Statesman Journal)

He wants to get the Salem River Crossing third bridge back on the table with state and federal partners.

"This has gone on far too long without real progress," Sund said.

He said the council voted to kill the third-bridge project despite 90% of the public input being in favor of it. He promised to make the issue one of his top priorities.

"We have studied, and we have invested millions, it’s time to move forward," Sund added.

He said his plans to take action on the bridge, desire to send issues like the water bill increase to voters and support for law enforcement to be able to make downtown streets safe using the sit-lie ordinance set him apart from his opponent.

Sund also said he has the support of the business community.

His campaign has reported $57,671 in cash and in-kind contributions, with his biggest contributors being the Build Jobs PAC, Mid-Valley Affordable Housing Coalition, the Oregon Realtors Political Action Committee and Citizens for a Livable Community.

Contribution amounts for city council campaigns can vary, but many recent campaigns have reported about $10,000 in contributions.

An analysis of recent campaign spending by former librarian Jim Scheppke found that Sund's campaign has garnered the most money in contributions of any council race. Jim Lewis's 2018 bid for re-election comes in a far second, with $35,534 in contributions.

Nordyke's campaign has reported $21,584 in contributions. The biggest contributors were local attorneys and individuals, along with union AFSCME Local 2067.